UK Launches 3-Day Emergency Readiness Drive as Streeting Warns of Cyber and Climate Threats
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Oct 22
UK Launches 3-Day Emergency Readiness Drive as Streeting Warns of Cyber and Climate Threats
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Oct 22
Summary
Britain launched a "Be Ready" campaign urging households to keep enough food, bottled water, first-aid supplies and other essentials to cope for three days during emergencies.
Wes Streeting said the push reflects rising risks from wildfires, expected winter flooding, sophisticated cyber attacks and disruption by hostile states or terrorists, including outages hitting supermarket payment systems.
The government said stronger household preparedness would help emergency services focus on the most vulnerable during crises that could also knock out power, water, phones and internet access.
The campaign follows similar public-readiness efforts in France, Ireland and the Netherlands, while a recent National Audit Office report said UK households and food supply chains remain exposed to extreme weather, disease outbreaks and cyber attacks.
The drive fits a broader national security strategy that has warned Britain must prepare for direct threats in a worsening security environment shaped by Russia's war in Ukraine and Iranian activity on British soil.